by Cheryl Bolen
Diana shook her head. "Nothing. It's just. . .just that we really must hurry to Queen Square. You do have an appointment to look at the house."
She's lying. Why did Diana so strongly wish to avoid Blanks? Surely he hadn't---
All of a sudden, Glee's heart thudded. And she knew why Diana was acting so peculiarly. Diana was privy to information that was withheld from Glee. George shared everything with her. Including the fact that Carlotta Ennis was Blanks's mistress.
* * *
Gregory had been putting off this meeting with Carlotta for as long as he could, but with Glee arriving tomorrow, he could postpone it no longer. He had wanted to delay the voluptuous Carlotta's anguish, to delay the tears he knew would come. For Carlotta clearly loved him. She had craved his every touch at the expense of her good name.
She had lured him into her bed despite that he had told her from the beginning he would never offer marriage. When it became clear she could not bring him to the altar, she banished her pride and begged to be his mistress. In the year since she had been under his protection, there had been no occasion when she had not eagerly welcomed him into her bed no matter what time day or night. I live to be in your arms, my darling, she had often huskily whispered to him during their heated lovemaking.
From across the small, linen-topped table, Gregory watched the lovely Carlotta with her radiant black hair, his eyes traveling to the rising and falling of her generous breasts that spilled into her purple gown.
"What's the matter, my love?" Carlotta asked with a trembling voice.
"What makes you think something is wrong?"
"Your actions. I've never known you to prefer a tearoom to my bed."
The serving lady brought their tea and set it and two cups and saucers on the table.
Gregory's heart pounded. He would have to tell her. "I have some news to share."
Her lashes lifted seductively to reveal lavender eyes wide with fear.
"I'm afraid it's not very good news, my dear." Had he ever called Carlotta my dear before? He fleetingly thought of Glee. Whom he had called my love. In both instances, his words were far from the truth. "First, I shall tell you about my father's disappointing will. I get nothing, unless. . ."
"Unless what?" Carlotta asked, not able to remove her frightened gaze from him.
"Unless I'm married on my twenty-fifth birthday."
Now a smile hitched across her exotically beautiful face.
He frowned. "I'm to marry Glee Pembroke."
An anguished gasp broke from her throat. "No! You can't!" Her eyes quickly filled with tears which began to spill down her ivory cheeks. She did nothing to check them. "Why can't you marry me? You said yourself we suit very well. And best of all, you don't want children, and I abhor the sniveling brats. Don't you see that Pembroke child can never love you in the ways I have?"
He was stunned over her hatred of children. After all, she had a child of her own. It was fortunate the poor lad did not reside with his mother.
Then Gregory remembered Carlotta's question. Why had he never considered marrying Carlotta? She was the most compatible bed partner he had ever possessed. She was beautiful and of good birth. And without a doubt, she loved him.
The thing of it was that he honestly had never wanted to marry any woman. His aversion to matrimony had been schooled by years of staunch avowal.
Had he to make his decision over again, though, he would still choose Glee Pembroke over Carlotta Ennis. Even if Glee proved to be a cold fish in bed. Now why had he gone and thought about Glee in bed? Hadn't he firmly decided he would never touch her? Resisting Glee's charms could prove most difficult, he realized as he remembered the intensity of their farewell kiss. Oddly, it had stirred him in ways Carlotta's kisses never had.
His reasons for deciding on marrying Glee had nothing to do with sex and nothing to do with her nobility of birth but everything to do with William Jefferson and others of his ilk. Throwing Glee to the likes of them was akin to coaxing lambs to slaughter.
Unlike the innocent Glee, Carlotta could easily handle herself—with or without his protection. Though he clearly meant to settle her well.
How could he explain all this to Carlotta? "I have made it clear to Miss Pembroke that our marriage is to be a marriage in name only. I have no intentions of relinquishing my ties to you, my lovely Carlotta." He picked up her icy hand and brushed his lips across it.
Still, her tears flowed unchecked. Now that the tea had steeped, she poured it into their cups, but instead of drinking hers, she wrapped her hands around the cup for warmth. "Why her?" she asked in a low voice not devoid of pain.
He shrugged.
"It's because I bring shame now that I've allowed myself to become your mistress. You've lost all respect for me. And now---" she broke off, sobbing, "you've lost your desire for me."
"No, that's not it at all!" he protested. "I'm here today with you. Would I be doing that if I were ashamed of you?"
"You're throwing me crumbs to assuage your conscience."
He shook his head vigorously, though her words rang true. His big hand covered hers. He felt the warmth from the steaming cup. "You must understand how important you are to me," he said.
She laughed a bitter laugh. "All you want is my compliant body because your wife won't be able to satisfy you."
"There's much more to you than a compliant body, Carlotta," he said in a deep, low voice.
Her long black lashes lowered. "Why couldn't you have asked me?"
He shrugged. "I honestly don't know."
"I never thought you would be so snobbish that you would marry for rank."
"I'm not marrying Miss Pembroke for her family's rank," he protested angrily.
"Then why? She's a mere child—and not the innocent you think her. What can she do for you?"
It's not what she can do for me as much as what I can do for her. Why had Carlotta maligned Glee? He didn't like it above half. He picked up his cup a downed his tea in one gulp. "We can talk on this from now until doomsday, but it won't change the fact that I've offered for Glee, she accepted, and the bans have been posted. There's nothing we can say or do now that will change anything."
Carlotta shot him a puzzled glance. "You want to marry her, don't you?"
"For God's sake, Carlotta, I've never wanted to marry any woman. You know that. Now, drink your tea."
She shook her head. "I no longer want it." Her eyes flashing in anger, she picked up her cup and slung its contents at him.
His temper scorching, he scooted back his chair and stood up. "I suggest we leave," he uttered in a voice shaking with anger.
They strolled silently along Cheap Street and turned onto Milsom. Her tears had finally stopped. When they got to her door on Queen Street, she turned to him. "This will be goodbye, Gregory," she said.
His brows lowered.
"I will use what little pride I have left to sever my illicit ties to you," she said. "I shan't allow you to slake your hunger in my bed." Her voice broke on the last few words, then she opened the door and entered, slamming the door in Gregory's face.
* * *
Glee would never know how she made it to Queen Square. Her heart raced, and she felt as if the blood had drained from her body. Blanks and Carlotta! It made her sick to think of the beautiful widow lying within his arms, allowing Blanks to love her like he would never love Glee.
And there was no way Glee could ever compete with Carlotta and her buxom beauty. How sadly she compared to Blanks's mistress. Blanks's mistress. The thought was rather like a dagger to the heart.
Since her refusal to allow Glee to cross the street to meet Blanks, Diana had not uttered a word. Even when a passing horse kicked water on her pink gown.
Finally, Glee broke the silence. "She's his mistress, isn't she?"
"A young maiden is not supposed to know of such things," Diana recited.
"Oh, but I do know," Glee said forlornly.
Diana's glance shifted sympathetically to Gle
e.
"Why couldn't it have been a woman from the lower classes?" Glee mused aloud.
"Or one with a wart on her nose?" Diana added.
Glee tried to summon a laugh. Sweet heaven, she had known Blanks kept mistresses, but never had she supposed such a woman would come from her own class. Or be so very beautiful.
When they got to the Harrison's house, Glee moved through the lavish ground floor chambers completely without emotion. When she was informed all the tasteful furnishings were to be included, she made no comment for her every thought was on Blanks.
Upstairs, she viewed the mistress's and master's chambers and dressing rooms, still without comment. When she beheld the olive green bed in the master's chamber, she realized this is where Blanks would sleep. Just steps from her own bed. With a dull pain in her heart, she wondered if she would ever share the bed with the man she loved.
When the tour of the house was concluded, she said, "I shall tell my husband-to-be to purchase this house." My husband-to-be. At least she would have something Carlotta would never have. His name.
And hopefully she would one day have his heart—if her battle strategies were successful.
Chapter 7
What a black day it had been for Gregory. First, the unpleasantness with Carlotta, which left him feeling bloody low. Then the unwelcome missive he had received from Glee informing him she had come to Bath a day early. And now at the Upper Assembly Rooms, he was being besieged with well-wishers offering felicitations upon his upcoming nuptials. Since Glee had decided on the Harrison house earlier in the day, word had spread through the city like leaves scattering on the wind.
Gregory's stomach knotted when he saw Jefferson—a devilish smile on his face—strolling across the ballroom floor toward him.
"I say, Blankenship, quite a conquest you've made with Sedgewick's beautiful sister."
Gregory's eyes swept over Jefferson. Why had he never before noticed how dandified the man was with his colorful waistcoats and elaborately tied cravat? "I am a most fortunate man," Gregory responded.
Jefferson clapped a hand on Gregory's shoulder. "And I was foolish enough to believe you would never be caught in parson's mousetrap." He leaned closer and spoke in a hoarse whisper. "I must suppose you've compromised the lady."
The air of detachment Gregory so carefully cultivated crumbled as rage swept through him. He brought himself face to face with the much smaller Jefferson. He grabbed Jefferson's lapels and spoke in a guttural voice. "If you ever again impugn Miss Pembroke—or even think about casting doubt on her character—I swear, Jefferson, I'll call you out." His hands fisted, he looked into Jefferson's pupils. "Have I made myself clear?"
Bravado replaced the fleeting look of fear on Jefferson's face. "Of course I meant no offense." His glance flicked across the room to Glee, who was being led onto the dance floor by a gangly youth. "Miss Pembroke is quite above our touch, you lucky devil."
"Devil is right!"
Gregory spun around to match the familiar voice to the speaker, Timothy Appleton. Next to George, Appleton was Gregory's oldest friend.
Jefferson excused himself, leaving Gregory to Appleton's chastisement.
"Why, pray tell, am I a devil?" Gregory asked.
"Because you failed to mention your betrothal to me, one of your oldest and dearest friends."
"Oh, that." Gregory brushed a speck of lint from his black coat. "'Tis three weeks off still, and I mean to enjoy every last day of bachelorhood."
"You're as bad as George. Remember, he swore off marriage until his thirtieth birthday, and he upped and married at four and twenty. And now you," Appleton said forlornly. "What's a fellow to do for pleasure anymore?"
A smile stretched across Gregory's face. "I can think of any number of things."
"Fact is, it's never the same after one weds. I long for the good old days. Oh, the times we've had," Appleton said wistfully. "Never was a chap more fun than George when he was in his cups. Remember the night he stretched out and went to sleep in front of Carlton House? And what about that trip to Newmarket when Elvin lost all his money and donned his groom's clothes to beg for dinner?"
"Melvin," Gregory corrected. Appleton was forever getting the twins mixed up. "The things that meek fellow will do when in his cups!"
Appleton sadly shook his head. "All the fun will be gone once you're wed."
Gregory patted his friend's back. "Not at all. Miss Pembroke assures me I can continue on as I always have."
"That's exactly what Miss Moreland—before she was Lady Sedgewick—said to Sedgewick. Look at him now. He's lost all his desire for enjoying a rollicking good time." Appleton shook his head. "Fail to understand what could be so amusing at a country estate with no one for company but a wife and babe!"
"Nor do I," Gregory said. "I assure you, I have no plans for my marriage to Miss Pembroke to change my activities in any way."
This comment failed to elicit the desired response in Appleton. "Can't understand why you're getting shackled then at all. You were the last one I ever expected to marry. Especially after all your avowed denials."
If only he could tell Appleton the truth. But he could never allow his brother to learn the marriage was a sham. "Have you not noticed Miss Pembroke's many excellent qualities?" Gregory asked.
"Course I have. I know of half a dozen blokes whose heart she broke. It's just that you have never been attracted to ladies."
"At least not until I was ready to set up a house and all that," Gregory defended.
"Never been so shocked as I was this afternoon when Melvin informed me you was to wed. Thought he had bats in his belfry. Told him so, too. Bet a pony he was wrong. So of course I came straight away to your lodgings where Stanley informed me you'd gone off to see Miss Pembroke at her hotel."
"Sorry I missed you," Gregory said, wishing like anything he could get Appleton off the subject of his nuptials. Demmed well wished he could get them out of his mind too and thoroughly enjoy his last weeks of utter freedom. Why did Glee have to come a day early? "Say, after I take Miss Pembroke home from the assembly, what say you we descend upon Mrs. Starr's gaming establishment?"
"I'm told the new dealer there's as fine a looking bit of muslin as there is." Appleton winked. "Fair and buxom."
"All the more reason to go," Gregory said with a mischievous smile.
"Go where?" said one of the twins who now joined them. Gregory was fairly certain the speaker was Elvin. Though the two with their Roman noses and prematurely receding dark hairlines looked exactly alike, their facial expressions differed vastly. Melvin was excessively shy and reticent while exuberance marked his brother's manner. The twin addressing them was undoubtedly exuberant.
Gregory's gaze swept over his three companions to settle on Elvin. "We go to Mrs. Starr's tonight after this dull affair."
Elvin's glance flitted to Glee, who was still dancing. "Will your betrothed allow you such freedom?"
So he had heard, too. Was there anyone left in Bath who was unaware of his forthcoming nuptials? "Of course she will, and my freedom shall extend to my married life as well."
Elvin mournfully shook his head. "Blackest day in me life. Blanks bespoken for. Whatever shall we do?"
Melvin nodded his agreement. "Dare say it's a pity."
Gregory shot his friends a stern look. "Everyone here tonight has offered felicitations, except the three of you."
"Sorry," Melvin said. "Wish you all the best and all that sort of thing."
"Naturally we want the best for you," Appleton said. "That goes without saying."
"'Tis just that we'll miss the good times we've shared," Elvin said.
"I've been telling Appleton that nothing has to change just because I'm getting married. Miss Pembroke has no desire to usurp my friends. She's a great sport. Says it's perfectly acceptable with her that I continue on as I always have." It was the least she could do.
"So the gel is to call the plays?" Elvin challenged.
"Never," Gregory s
napped. He was aware that the orchestra had quit playing and looked to see Glee making her way across the ballroom toward him.
* * *
If only I'd stayed in Warwickshire another day, Glee lamented. Then she might not have learned the sad news about Carlotta nor would she have had to endure Blanks's wrath for robbing a day of his precious bachelorhood. He had been a positive ogre since visiting her at the hotel late that afternoon. Was he comparing her to Carlotta, bereft with disappointment that she was not the lovely raven-haired widow? No doubt he was wishing Glee to the devil.
Were she truly benevolent, she would release him of obligation to marry her. But she was not benevolent. And she was as stubborn as he. Nothing would prevent her from marrying Blanks and being given the opportunity to earn his eternal love. And nothing would ever quench her thirst to love and be loved by Gregory Blankenship.
She smiled and greeted Appleton, then the twins, whom she was forever getting mixed up. George, too, had been unable to determine which twin was which. The only person who could tell them apart was Blanks.
Glee moved to Blanks's side. "I had hoped for a dance with you tonight."
"You've not lacked for partners," he said with an air of indifference.
"But none of them have been the man I'll wed," she countered. "We simply must satisfy all the wagging tongues, my dear Mr. Blankenship."
His dark eyes flashed with some emotion she could not name, then he excused himself from his friends and offered Glee his arm as the violins signaled a waltz.
Though she had danced with Blanks many times, she had never waltzed with him. She was completely unprepared for her reaction to being held so closely to him. It was as if the dance floor were a cloud. She felt so light and utterly feminine. And so wholly aware of his masculinity as he lightly held her, his sandalwood scent rushing to her blossoming senses. Her heart accelerated and she hoped she would not be called upon to speak, for she feared her trembling voice would betray her.
She need not worry that he would address her. Mechanically conducting the dance steps, he had no desire to converse with her. She wondered if he was thinking of Carlotta.